My 2002 Toyota Camry and I are celebrating our one-year anniversary this month. This is a remarkable vehicle. And what better way to celebrate a one-year anniversary than to write about my car experience.
Why Buy Toyota?
This is my third Toyota Camry. What keeps me coming back is Toyota's quality and safety ratings. The cars go in for regular oil changes and minor expected maintenance. I've never had to spend a lot of time or money on repair issues (with the exception of the parking brake, which I'll mention in a bit). Another solid fact in Toyota's favor is that the resale value of a Toyota is excellent. All in all, I'm a very pleased Camry owner.
First Impressions
This is a stylish car! Much nicer in design that my two previous Camrys. The woodgrain interior adds an extra luxurious feel. The car has plenty of head and leg room. When I first sat in it, I couldn't believe how large it felt compared to my older model Camry. The seatbelts also fit comfortably. For a 4-cylinder engine, this car is powerful and very responsive. It's quiet, too. Oodles of trunk space, and a full-size spare tire. It also comes with a security system and keyless entry. What luxury!
Instrumentation & Layout
The steering wheel tilts, offering personalized comfort. On the left of the steering wheel column, is a stick containing the headlight controls. Should you forget to turn off the headlights, they automatically shut off. Beneath this is a button affixed to the edge of the steering wheel. This button switches the digital clock/outside temperature display to a variety of modes. I have mine programmed to show how many miles the car can travel on the current tank of gas. The different modes available are: instantaneous fuel consumption, average fuel consumption, driving range, average vehicle speed, driving time. This car is smart and analyzes your driving patterns. On the right side of the steering wheel are two more stick controls. The top stick operates the windshield wipers and wash. The bottom stick operates the cruise control.
Above the steering wheel are nice readout displays (tachometer, temperature gauge, speedometer, etc). This car also offers two Trip Meters.
On the dashboard, to the right of the steering wheel is a center mounted unit. Located here are the radio/cassette/CD players, and beneath those the environmental controls for the car. Even after a year of driving this car, I still cannot blindly reach over and press the correct button. I have to wait until I'm stopped in traffic and look directly at the controls to make sure I'm making the right button selection. In front of the passenger seat is the glovebox. The dash also offers several storage areas and a 12-volt auxiliary power port.
This Camry has an excellent sound system. I'm not a music expert, but this system sounds wonderful to me. I've never had a CD player in a car before and was a bit skeptical on how a CD could flawlessly play when the car traveled bumpy roads ... but the CD player performs perfectly. Eight speakers ensure the music (or audio book) is heard throughout the car.
The air conditioning in this car works better than any other car air conditioner I've owned. It cools the car quickly and keeps the car cool. When allergy season arrives, the air conditioning does a perfect job of filtering the air to allow easier breathing. Backseat passengers also enjoy the rear air conditioning vents.
The anti-glare rearview mirror has a digital compass in the right upper corner. The visors flip down to reveal lighted mirrors. The windshield is large and offers and excellent view of the road.
The Parking Brake, is of the pedal variety, and is located to the driver's left on the floor. A center armrest separates the driver's seat from the passenger seat. This is a bit too high for me to comfortably rest my arm (and I am tall). However, the armrest opens to reveal two storage compartments (one atop the other), the bottom bin deeper than the top bin. The bottom bin contains a 12-volt auxiliary power port. A cup holder is located in front of the armrest/compartments. The controls for the automatic transmission are in front of the cup holder, between the two front seats.
The ceiling area in front of the windshield has dual map lights as well as a flip-down compartment for storing a pair of sunglasses. There are also three buttons to program an optional HomeLink garage door opener. Since I don't have an automatic garage door opener, this feature does not work in my car.
Both front doors have built-in hard-plastic pockets for storage. The front seats offer multiple ways of customizing the seats for comfort. On the back of each bucket seat is also a fabric pocket for storing items such as maps.
The backseat comfortably seats three people. If only two passengers are seated, then a section of the backseat can pull down between the riders, providing cup holders and a shared armrest. The rear window has a roll-up shade. Just pull it up and anchor it into built- in clips to keep passengers or cargo cool or to add privacy.
Toyota will provide free of charge a seatbelt extender. I didn't need it, but I'm mentioning this because it isn't a well-known fact. Contact your Toyota dealer, and they will order the correct length extender for you.
Driving the Car & Passenger Comfort
My driving patterns take me through cities and suburbs with some long distance traveling. I've driven New Hampshire and Vermont mountains but mostly travel fairly level roadways with moderate hills. I've never taken the Camry off road, though the car has maneuvered through some nasty potholes with no discomfort to this driver. The car has handled all my travels with ease. It drives smoothly, speeds up when needed with no hesitation, and takes corners neatly. I do hear road noise when the car is in motion, but it's not enough to bother me. When idling at stop lights, the engine is so quiet, that at times I wonder if it is working.
The Camry starts easily every time, no matter if the weather is hot, cold, rainy or dry. The windshield wipers are the best yet of any Camry I've owned. One new feature I love is that when the windshield wash button is pushed, the water fans across the glass rather than squirting in a solid, straight line. More of the windshield is covered with liquid, allowing the wipers to better clean the glass.
One thing that is an inconvenience is that the Camry has no "rain gutters" over the car doors. If the car is wet, and you open the door, water drips onto the car seat. It's difficult to believe that such a simple thing could be left out of this car design.
I often have passengers in my car, and all of them have complimented me on the woodgrain interior. Whether riding in the front or back seats, passengers comment on their comfort. There is plenty of head and leg room, too.
The trunk is large (16.7 cubic feet). When I visited my local nursery and unexpectedly decided to purchase additional ground cover for the yard, I was happily surprised to find that the trunk held all 14 potted Blue Rug Junipers, and I was even able to shut the trunk after loading in the large plant pots. If extra space is needed, the rear seat also pulls down in a 60/40 split, extending the space in the already roomy trunk. There are built-in storage areas that can hold a couple of two-liter bottles or gallon jugs. The cargo net fits neatly across the trunk opening ... I love this feature for holding small bags that would otherwise slide around the trunk.
Parking Brake Problem
This is my one bad experience with this car.
Eight months after owning the 2002 Toyota Camry XLE, the parking brake sometimes wouldn't ratchet to the floor. The foot pedal would hit the floor and bounce back, as if the parking brake wasn't there. I brought the car to the dealership, but the car would not demonstrate the problem. The technicians adjusted the brake and pronounced the problem solved.
The adjustment lasted a day. Back to the dealership I went. The parking brake worked correctly every time they tested it. The service department told me they could do nothing for me without experiencing the problem for themselves. "What about the 36month/36,000 mile warranty?" I asked. They told me Toyota's policy is not to replace parts in vehicles unless there is a specific/proven problem. Meaning ... we aren't experiencing your problem ... go away.
I let them know that I park the car on hills. I like the added safety/reassurance of using the parking brake. The dealership would not help me. They even went so far as to say that most people don't use parking brakes, and implied that I shouldn't bother about it not working.
Well the problem continued, worsening so that the parking brake only worked about 50% of the time.
I explained to them that in order for the car to pass its yearly inspection, the parking brake had to work. They said, if it doesn't work at the inspection, then we'll fix it.
Persistence pays off. The service department manager finally said that a Toyota Specialist visited their dealership every few months, and he scheduled an appointment for me. The specialist examined my Camry a few weeks ago. He told me he almost found nothing wrong with my car, but when finished his inspection ... as he was backing the car out of the bay, on a whim, he tried the emergency brake one more time. It hit the floor and bounced back up. He tried it again. Again it hit the floor without locking. The Toyota Specialist determined that the Parking Brake Pedal Assembly needed replacing. I had the work done this week free of charge, and the parking brake is working ... after four months of phone calls and dealership visits.
Safety Equipment and Security
I've never had ABS brakes before this Camry and believe they should be standard equipment on all cars. They save lives. This past New England winter was particularly nasty. Three times I skidded on iced roads and the ABS brakes saved me from what could have been nasty collisions. On the few occasions where I've had to instantly stop, the 2002 Toyota Camry XLE brakes instantly grabbed and held.
Thankfully I have not had to put the airbags to the test. I'm still not sure how I feel about the potential of having them explode at me. The childproof, rear door locks are useful.
One of my favorite features is the Keyless Entry. Press a button on the Toyota key chain, and the car doors or trunk unlock. On the back of the key chain is a Panic Button. Press this and the car horn blasts in an ear-aching noise and the lights flash. I'm not sure if it is the Keyless Entry or better door locks ... but not once this past winter did I have to fuss with frozen door locks. My previous Camrys had frozen door locks several times during winter. The 2002 Camry hasn't had a single problem. Keyless entry is convenient, fast and fabulous. No more worrying about scratching the car door with errant car keys. This wireless transmitter takes a CR2032 lithium battery, which can be replaced.
The Camry XLE also comes equipped with several security devices. The Engine Immobiliser System is a theft prevention device that is keyed to the transponder chip in the key's head. When the key is inserted in the ignition, an electronic code is sent into the vehicle. If the code matches the registered ID code for the vehicle, the car starts. When the key is removed from the ignition, the Engine Immobiliser System activates, and a red light flashes on the dashboard. Inserting the registered key into the ignition cancels the Engine Immobiliser, allowing the car to start.
A built-in Theft Deterrent System is also a wonderful feature. If any of the doors, trunk or hood is forcibly unlocked or if the battery terminal is disconnected and then reconnected when the car is locked, a horn honks and the car lights flash.
The Toyota Car Manual extensively covers the use of the safety child restraint system and how to install infant and booster seats.
The trunk has an internal release handle, so that if a person is locked inside the trunk, the person can pull down the handle located on the inside of the trunk lid. The handle is phosphorescent so that it glows in the dark, staying lit for awhile after the trunk is shut.
What I Like Most
* Keyless Entry
* Good Fuel Economy (the gas tank also holds 18.5 gallons)
* ABS Brakes
* Roomy Interior & Trunk
* 60/40 Fold Down Back Seat
* Full-size Spare Tire
* Windshield Wash splashes in a fan across the window
* Smooth ride and responsive handling
* This smart car knows how many miles I have left to drive on my tank of gas
What I Dislike
* Problematic Parking Brake (fixed now)
* No "rain gutters" over the doors
* Desert Sand Mica colored exterior easily shows scratches
Buying the Car
I did a lot of research before purchasing the 2002 Toyota Camry XLE. Just because I loved my last two Camrys didn't necessarily mean that Toyota was the best car on the market for me. But after reading reviews and comparing models, I decided a Camry was the best vehicle in my price range. I armed myself with dealer invoice information and holdback percentages.
Next I let my fingers do some keyboard tapping to check out availability at the local dealerships. Ideally I wanted a silver exterior with a gray interior, but none of the dealerships stocked that color. Deciding to drive out of my color rut (my last two cars were silver), I visited a dealership that had a sand colored Camry with a beige interior. My first thought was boring color ... why don't they make some fun color choices? Then the sunlight hit the mica finish, and the car actually looked pretty. Once I took a test drive, I was ready to talk money.
The 2002 Toyota Camry XLE sticker price was $23,459. One thing Toyota does is add in their "Advertising Fee" as an additional expense, which this dealership refused to negotiate. I had read that most times this is a non-negotiable fee, but I had to try. With additional discussion, I talked them down to $21,367.
Summary
After a year of driving my 2002 Toyota Camry XLE, I still love it. It is worth every penny. In a year the only work I've had done is to replace the faulty emergency brake and take the car in for oil changes. The car doesn't even rattle, as sometimes happens with cars. I'd say more ... but what else is there to add. It's a great car! I enjoy driving it.
Update -- June 8, 2006
Just wanted to comment that I'm still driving this Toyota Camry and am extremely pleased with it. The emergency brake is still working after that initial fix. The interior has held up really well. If I had to pick on one thing it would be that a bit of the carpet on the vertical wall near the gas pedal tends to come loose. It is not a hazard, just a nuisance. Other than that, the car is great. No breakdowns ... just smooth riding.
Update -- October 7, 2007
About a month ago, the "Check Engine" light came on. I phoned the Toyota dealership and spoke with the service department. They said the light could mean a lot of things. Before bringing the car in for a diagnostic, they recommended that I check to see if the gas cap was loose. They also said the problem could be related to the car's emissions.
The gas cap was fine. However, one of my coworkers said his brother had the same problem with his car (I don't know the car model). The brother was buying inexpensive gasoline and changed where he bought it. That solved his problem.
Normally I purchase 87 octane gas at Hess. The gas tank was only down five and a half gallons, but I drove to the Mobile station and filled it with 89 octane. After driving for a day and a half, the "Check Engine" light went out. For a month now, I've been using the 89 octane, and the light has stayed off.
I'm still very much enjoying this car!
I hope you found this review useful.
Enjoy your day,
Dawn
http://dlstewart.com
2002 Toyota Camry XLE Features
Fuel Economy: 23 MPG City / 32 MPG Highway
Mechanical & Performance
2.4 Liter, 4 Cylinder, Twin-Cam, 16 Valve, VVT-I Engine
Front Wheel Drive
4-speed automatic Trans Power Rack & Pinion Steering
4-wheel independent suspension
5 Full-size anti-skid tires (includes full-size spare)
Safety
Daytime Running Lights
Anti-lock Brake System (ABS)
Driver/Passenger Dual Stage Airbags
Seat belts (2 front / 3 back)
Side Impact Door Beams
Child Protector Rear Door Locks
Exterior
Halogen Auto-off Headlights
Dual Power Heated Outside Mirrors
Full Wheel Covers
Solar Energy Absorbing Glass
Bodyside Molding with Chrome
Chrome Rear Garnish
Comfort & Convenience
Automatic Climate Control A/C with Rear Seat Vents
JBL Premium Radio/Cassette/CD player with 8 speakers in 6 locations
Power Driver and Passenger Seats & Power Door Locks
Security System & Keyless Entry
Wood Grain Interior Trim
Auto Dim Rearview Mirror
Cruise Control & Multi-info Displays
Power Windows & Rear Window Defogger
Four Spoke Tilt Steering Wheel
Rear 60/40 Split Fold-down Seat
Manual Rear Pull-down Sunshade & Cargo Net
Extras
Driver and Front Passenger Side Airbags
Front & Rear Curtain Airbags
Carpet/Cargo Mat Set
Warranty
"Limited warranty provides 36 month/36,000 mile comprehensive coverage. 5 year/60,000 mile powertrain coverage. Plus 5 year body panel corrosion perforation warranty."
Please read my other reviews:
Toyota Camry 2007
Toyota Camry 1990
Turtle Wax Express Shine
Canon PowerShot A400 Digital Camera
Copyright 2003 Dawn L. Stewart
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